Paul E. Tressler

Paul Eugene "Gene" Tressler, 68, of Blairsville, died Thursday, July 31, 2014, in a building fire in Blairsville. He was born Sept. 20, 1945, in Blairsville, a son of the late Paul and Evelyn Boyer Tressler. Gene graduated from Blairsville High School in 1963. He entered the Air Force two years later. In 1965, he moved to Nevada where he met his wife, Barb, and had two children. Gene's working career included being a welder as a member of the boilermakers and he also served as a general mechanic in the National Guard, serving in the local Nevada area and in Germany. He and his wife worked together as apartment managers with Gene being the maintenance technician. Gene most recent employment was for the Golden Nugget Casino in Las Vegas, where he was a poker dealer and keno writer for 20 years until his retirement in 2004, when he returned to Blairsville. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Ralph "Mike" Palmer; and two sisters, Kay Baker and Sylvia Tressler. He is survived by his son, Wayne; daughter, Jodi Jean, who both still live in Las Vegas; five beautiful grandchildren; four sisters, Karen Hill, of Delaware, Barb Maffe and Mollie Saberda, both of Blairsville, and Carla Crissman, of Tarentum; three brothers, Wayne "Jerry" Tressler, of Michigan, Gary Palmer, of Delaware, and Dana Palmer, of Blairsville; and several nieces and nephews. Gene's children will carry out his final wishes by scattering his ashes in the Pacific Ocean. There will be a public memorial service at 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 9, 2014, in the parking lot of the new Tractor Supply Store (formerly Bi-Lo), Blairsville. Immediately following, there will be a light meal served in Gene's honor at The Other Place, located along Market Street in Blairsville. McCABE FUNERAL HOME, 300 W. Third Ave., Derry is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be made to http://www.mccabefuneralhomes.com.